Published: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 6:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 6:56 p.m.

The annual DeLand St. Johns River Christmas Boat Parade, which dates to the 1920s, has long been a source for holiday enthusiasm with uniquely Florida flavor.

People put lights on kayaks and paddled the parade route — from State Road 44 to Lake Beresford. They posted inflatable Santas on the bows. One year, eight employees of All Quality Products, a DeLand building-supplies company, dressed as elves and danced atop a houseboat.

That spirit will be missing this year, as the parade — which would have been the 48th annual this Saturday — has been canceled due to a lack of entries and sponsors. Roger Woywood, president of the nonprofit parade organization, said he hopes to bring it back in 2013.

"Sad to say, but we had no interest at all," Woywood said. "We had one boat as of the day before Thanksgiving."

A lack of sponsors also contributed to the decision, he said.

The organization needs funding to cover costs such as prize money and liability insurance, said Woywood, an Orange City resident.

He's baffled about why the interest waned this year.

"I was told last year (2011) was one of the better parades in some time," he said. "We had a lot of interest, but we didn't have quite as much money and we had to use our reserves to pay for it."

Woywood saw his first DeLand boat parade 25 years ago, and said the event actually got its start in the 1920s. It was halted for a few years during World War II, but will have a string of 47 consecutive years broken this year.

"It's a tradition," he said. "I'm sorry we didn't pull it off this year."

One of the more enthusiastic participants in recent years, All Quality Products, simply had other commitments and couldn't do it, said Keith Pillow, manager.

"This year, several of our employees had other plans, the way it's fallen," Pillow said.

He speculated the economy had a lot to do with the lack of entries this year. Pillow said he "absolutely" hopes there will be a parade in 2013.

<p>The annual DeLand St. Johns River Christmas Boat Parade, which dates to the 1920s, has long been a source for holiday enthusiasm with uniquely Florida flavor. </p><p>People put lights on kayaks and paddled the parade route &mdash; from State Road 44 to Lake Beresford. They posted inflatable Santas on the bows. One year, eight employees of All Quality Products, a DeLand building-supplies company, dressed as elves and danced atop a houseboat. </p><p>That spirit will be missing this year, as the parade &mdash; which would have been the 48th annual this Saturday &mdash; has been canceled due to a lack of entries and sponsors. Roger Woywood, president of the nonprofit parade organization, said he hopes to bring it back in 2013. </p><p>"Sad to say, but we had no interest at all," Woywood said. "We had one boat as of the day before Thanksgiving." </p><p>A lack of sponsors also contributed to the decision, he said. </p><p>The organization needs funding to cover costs such as prize money and liability insurance, said Woywood, an Orange City resident. </p><p>He's baffled about why the interest waned this year. </p><p>"I was told last year (2011) was one of the better parades in some time," he said. "We had a lot of interest, but we didn't have quite as much money and we had to use our reserves to pay for it." </p><p>Woywood saw his first DeLand boat parade 25 years ago, and said the event actually got its start in the 1920s. It was halted for a few years during World War II, but will have a string of 47 consecutive years broken this year. </p><p>"It's a tradition," he said. "I'm sorry we didn't pull it off this year." </p><p>One of the more enthusiastic participants in recent years, All Quality Products, simply had other commitments and couldn't do it, said Keith Pillow, manager. </p><p>"This year, several of our employees had other plans, the way it's fallen," Pillow said. </p><p>He speculated the economy had a lot to do with the lack of entries this year. Pillow said he "absolutely" hopes there will be a parade in 2013.</p>